Attitude of The Kingdom - Embracing Christ's Humility and Obedience

The Attitude of the Kingdom Matthew 16:24-17:13

Is our attitude the same as that of Christ?

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even to death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8 HCSB

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. Matthew 16:24 25 HCSB

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? Matthew 16:25 26 HCSB

For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 HCSB

I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Matthew 16:28 HCSB

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 HCSB

More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, Philippians 3:8 9 HCSB

For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:19 20 HCSB

By whom do I live this life I have been given? Who lives in me and through me? Do I choose to live in faith, by faith and through faith in Jesus Christ? Am I indeed crucified with Christ?

What does it look like for you to take up your cross for Jesus? What does it mean to identify with Jesus in His rejection, shame, suffering and death?

And whoever doesnt take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 10:38 HCSB

To be of no worth, is to be of no value to Jesus.

When is one ready to follow Jesus? When nothing else is worthy of the value of Jesus in my life and I am fully willing to be marked with Him.

Do we have enough faith to suffer and die for Jesus?

Saved Life Deny yourself Take up your cross Follow Christ Lose your life for Him Forsake the world Keep your soul Share His reward & glory Lose His reward & glory Lost Life Live for yourself Ignore the cross Follow the world Save your life for you Gain the world Lose your soul

What is the effect on the disciples of Jesus?

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw each one s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1 Corinthians 3:12 13 ESV

If man tries to build on any other foundation other than Jesus Christ, fire will reveal their work and true motivation. What is the foundation upon which I have built my life? My faith?

He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God s fellow workers. You are God s field, God s building. 1 Corinthians 3:7 9 ESV

However, the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says: Acts 7:48 HCSB

The God who made the world and everything in it He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. Acts 17:24 HCSB

And what agreement does Gods sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 2 Corinthians 6:16 HCSB

What is the significance of the transfiguration account? (Mt. 17:1-13)

1. The Glory of His person Jesus has given us this transfiguration glory and when we surrender ourselves to God, He will transfigure our minds (Romans 12:1-2) and ourselves from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18). Have we surrendered ourselves to Jesus?

We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 HCSB

The Glory of His Kingdom The transfiguration teaches us that Jesus was glorified in His death and fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. Am I willing to surrender to Jesus glory?

The Glory of His Cross The transfiguration happened so that the disciples would learn that suffering and glory go hand in hand. As Jesus experienced, His followers will experience. Death is an exodus, a release, from the bondage of this world, to the world of the Kingdom of God to come. Is death an escape or a release for you?

The Glory of His Submission We do not understand Jesus submission if we still take and/or give offense. Submission always leads to Jesus glory. Are we moving towards Jesus glory?

First suffering, then the glory; first the cross, then the crown. -W. Wiersbe; Matthew; Be Commentary